Pike planner and pike planning



Nov. 23, 1954 M. H. ROME 2,694,864

PIKE PLANNER AND PIKE PLANNING Filed Nov. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY NOV. 23, 1954 H, ROMER PIKE PLANNER AND PIKE PLANNING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 2, 1951 ii iiiiimm INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent PIKE PLANNER AND PIKE PLANNING Maurice H. Romer, East Haven,

A. C. Gilbert Company, ration of Maryland Conn., assignor to The New Haven, Conn., a corpo- This invention relates to methods of planning desired courses of track rails in a toy or model railroad system known in the art as pike planning. The invention is also embodied in an improved drafting implement of the nature of a diagraph presenting traceable linear elements such as straight and curved pencil guiding edges that are contoured and marked off at definite intervals bearing a scaled proportion to actual prefabricated sectional units of toy track as commonly marketed.

Pike planning involves peculiar problems that are not encountered in ordinary layout planning. For instance drafting templates carrying pencil guiding marks or edges for use in house planning representing for instance walls. mouldings, door swings, stairs, fireplaces, furniture etc. enable a planner to piece together such elements in selective arrangements, but the possible arrangements are unlimited.

This is not the case in pike planning because the course of track in a toy railroad must be circuitous and the component linear straight and/or curved lengths of various toy track sections must add up exactly along this circuitous course to the total linear length of the pike. This result is difficult to achieve by mathematical or geometric computations because of the end to end jointure of straight track sections and curved track sections that is involved.

An important object of the invention is to enable a diagram to be drawn that makes it possible to choose correctly merely by inspection of such diagram what quantities and kinds of sectional units of commercially standardized toy track will assemble together and produce a desired closed course or system of trackage that can be accommodated in some available limited area of working surface, as for instance a table top.

In originally setting up, and in later making additions to, a system or pike of toy or model railroad track, the purchaser usually knows the shape and size limitations of his available support surface. Since such limitation determines the permissible overall shape and size of the completed track system, his problem becomes one of ascertaining in what directions the track course, including its circuit lines, crossing lines, connecting or merging lines, etc. can best extend to attain a desired track layout within the available area.

A related purpose of the invention is to enable one who is planning to construct such a layout to ascertain and accurately list in advance of purchase what quantities and kinds of standardized commercial track units he should procure to build his desired layout without shortages or left-overs, or the necessity of resorting to cutand-try methods of track building which are wasteful and inconvenient.

A specific object is to provide a conveniently small diagraph or drafting guide that is fashioned particularly for pike planning by being contoured and marked off incrementally on a reduced scale in proportion to known actual sizes of prefabricated toy or model track section units. Thus by use of a single such implement penciled diagrams in miniature size can be plotted on a small drawing pad or piece of graph paper representing any proposed full size track systems. By the principles of this invention such diagram will make evident without the use of quantitative numerals or computation the kind and exact quantities of commercially standardized track sections that should be purchased to construct the course of track indicated by the diagram.

A particular object of the present improvements is to provide a pike planning implement that can be handled in the same general manner as are transparent triangles or so called French curves by differently positioning the implement successively on drawing paper and progressively tracing therefrom component lengths of straight and curved lines extending end to end and representing the center lines of actual track sections that will be capable of assembly end to end in a closed course or system of trackage.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will appear in fuller particular from the following description of a pike planning method and of a drafting implement embodying the invention, such description having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 shows in preferred actual size a drawing implement or diagraph embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view drawn on an enlarged scale taken in section on the plane 2-2 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view taken in section on the plane 33 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 indicates a typical manner of using the implement of Fig. 1 for diagramming a proposed toy track system.

Fig. 5 shows in heavy lines a typical diagram of a proposed track system drawn by using the implement as indicated in Fig. 4, broken lines showing some of the successive positions in which the implement is placed on the graph paper in drawing the diagram.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a curved full section of toy trac Fig. 7 shows a curved half section of toy track.

Fig. 8 shows a straight full section of toy track.

Fig. 9 shows a straight half section of toy track.

Fig. 10 shows a crossover section of toy track.

Fig. 11 shows a junction unit of combined straight and curved toy track with left branching spur.

Fig. 12 shows a corresponding junction unit with right branching spur.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a system of actual trackage assembled from an assortment of sections chosen according to the diagram of Fig. 5 from commercial available units such as those of Figs. 6 to 12.

In Fig. 1 the implement or pike planning diagraph as a whole comprises a thin plate 14 preferably of Celluloid or other hard springy plastic material sufficiently transparent to reveal such lines as may be beneath it and having the general outline shape of a letter J. The implement presents straight and curved traceable line elements which herein take the form of peripheral edges 16 of the plate adapted to guide a pencil point for drawing a diagram on graph paper 18. If paper 18 were transparent, said elements on plate 14 might within the compass of this invention comprise mere lines drawn on the plate surface so as to be traceable through the paper.

The diagraph or template 14 is bounded by a continuous peripheral edge, two stretches of which edge are spaced apart straight and parallel to form a shank portion of the implement, a third stretch of which edge is straight and perpendicular to one of said parallel edges at a mutual meeting point in the region designated 9 in Fig. 1, and a fourth stretch of which edge bounding the broader head portion of the implement describes a degree are of constant circular curvature struck from said meeting point, to which are the other of said parallel stretches is tangent and to which are said perpendicular stretch is normal. I

The implement edges 16 are beveled at 20. This bevel is marked off at intervals by cross lines 22 which may consist of narrow grooves but preferably will be accentuated at their outer ends by notches or indentations 24 in the plate edges 16 wide enough and deep enough in proportion to the thickness of a pencil lead to cause a perceptible jog in a pencil line when drawn past each of these notches While the lead is sliding along the plate edge.

The implement 12 is apertured at 26 and is narrow slotted at 28. Pencil guiding edges 30 of the implement which border aperture 26 are beveled at 32 like the peripheral bevel 20. Pencil guiding edges 34 which border the narrow slot 28 are correspondingly beveled 3 at 36. Both of bevels 32 and 36 are provided with like cross lines 22 terminating at like edge notches 24 as in the case of the peripheral bevel 20.

The notch indented pencil guiding edges 16, 30, 30 and 34 comprise one form of what may be termed a fixed, end-to-end assemblage of subdivisions or straight and curved traceable line elements whose individual lengths, as marked off at intervals by demarkations such as the bevel crossing lines 22 and edge notches 24, are proportioned on a reduced scale to actual sizes and shapes of the center lines of track sections whose dimensions may be known from the makers sales catalogue.

For simplicity such sections may comprise a full curve 6, half curve 7, full straight 8, half straight 9, crossover 10, left spur branch switch 11, and right spur branch switch 12. In sectional toy track systems of these simpler kinds, the track sections are usually merchandised as catalogued units of standardized shape and size which may be purchased individually or in various selective assortments.

For convenience of reference these numerals are applied in Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive, of the drawings to represent the actual toy track section unit structures, while the traceable line elements on the implement edges that represent them are designated respectively by corresponding numerals primed. The rearranged line components in the diagram of Fig. 5 are designated respectively by numerals corresponding respectively to those that designate the track sections in Figs. 6 to 12.

In a popular gauge of toy track known as gauge, scale of to the foot, the full curve 6, full straight 8, crossover 10, and branch switches 11 and 12 may each measure in overall length of center line of the actual structure While the half curve 7 and half straight 9 may each measure 5 in length of the centerlines of their respective structures. All curvatures of track involved in such units will be truly circular at a radius of 19" measured to an imaginary line running centrally of the track midway between the rails. It is such single center line that is represented on a reduced scale as the course of tracks'to be plotted by my improved implement. In a smaller socalled HO gauge of track (35 mm. to the foot) the full section lengths might be 8" and the center line curvature at a radius of 16".

By following the above explained significance of the reference characters as applied in the drawings, the way that the implement is used to plot a diagram such as that in Fig. 5 will be clear, as will also be clear the manner in which there can be ascertained from mere inspection of such diagram what exact kinds and quantities of the various straight and curved section units of Figs. 6 to 10 will assemble evenly together in a circuitous course to produce any desired pike or layout of actual trackage.

As an example, the use of my improved pike planner 14 to generate the diagram of Fig. 5 may involve laying the implement on a pad of graph paper 18 marked off into squares by faint lines preferably spaced in the same scale of proportion to the track section units as the beveled crossing lines 22 of the implement 14. While the use of graph paper may prove a help in keeping to a parallel relationship with the four sides of a support area, such as the four edges of an ordinary table top, the squares on the graph paper are of very little help in other respects and plain or unlined paper can be used to nearly as good effect.

When planning a pike such as shown in Figs. 5 and 13 one might prefer first to lay out the border course which will run nearest to the limits of the support area, providing indentations in the course of track if desired to accommodate outlying scenic structures. Afterward the area surrounded by the border course may be occupied by prefabricated auxiliary track circuits, cross-overs, dead end branches, etc. that merge and must interfit with the prefabricated sections of the course of track already laid. Wherever there is a circuit or completed loop of trackage the linear extent of same must be the exact sum of the individual straight and curved sectional track units composing it. This can be assured dependably by a diagram produced in accordance with the invention. It would require time consuming and mathematically difiicult computations to do it in any other way.

One position 14a of my improved template shown in broken lines in Fig. 5 demonstrates use being made of the right angle at the inner corner of the external contour of the plate 14 to lay down the size and determine the pointing direction of the crossover 10. Position 14b shows use being made of one of the single line elements 8 on the template adjoining one of the curved elements 6 to lay down the line 8 along the bottom center course in the diagram. The implement position shows use being made of one half of the semicircular head of the template to lay down on paper 18 the quarter circle curvature at the upper right corner of the diagram composed of three of the line elements 60' of plate 14, as well as stretches of straight course of trackage consisting of sections 8, 8, 8 and 9. Intervening between two of the sections 8 and 3 the template has been shifted back to the position 1411 in which the guide edges 30 and 30' that border the stencil aperture 26 at its end 11 will have been traced on the paper to interject a left spur branch 11 into the diagram.

Working by increments as above there will result a completed diagram such as that of Fig. 5 whose lines will exhibit perceptible jogs at the points indicated by short cross marks in Fig. 5. By mere inspection of the diagram, the course of the pike line between each pair of such jogs can readily be identified with a particular one of the prefabricated toy track units shown in Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive. Thus note can easily be made of the kinds and quantities of such units or standard size that can be purchased on the open market with complete assurance that they will assemble evenly together and with no shortages or left overs in producing the pike or trackage system shown in Fig. 13.

Unlike formerly known kinds of drafting templates capable of universal use, a pike planner such as contemplated by the present invention must be of a size and marking that accords with a particular gauge and curvature of track units to be used in building a pike that incorporates an endless circuit of track. This emphasizesthe difference in principle that is inherent in the present method and drafting implement in contrast to, drawing templates of other kinds for planning arrangements of elements that need not fit together in an endless circuit. The linear lengths of line elements 6, 8', etc. along the border edges of the diagraph may conveniently be one twelfth of the corresponding dimensions of the actual toy track sections 6 and 8 while the curvature-of the border edges 16 and 30' may be that of the circumference of a circle having a radius one twelfth that of the center line curvature of the actual track sections 6, 7, 11 and 12. The sections 7 and 9 will be one half as long as sections 6 and 8 and this half length is represented by the length of the line elements 7 and 9 in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the cross marks 22 and 24 designate the end-to-end junctions of straight and curved track elements as also do the ends of aperture 2 6.

Although in Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive, the commercial units of track section are indicated to incorporate a solid road bed, those shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, may be of the usual skeleton type consisting only of rails and cross ties or sleepers, requiring no underlying bed structure. The cross over 10 and spur branches 11 and 12 on the other hand are customarily accompanied by bed structure.

The appended claims are intended to apply to and cover all variations of the particular structure and methods herein disclosed which fall within the broadest interpretation of the terms used in the claims.

I claim:

1. In planning a toy railroad pike, the method of ascertaining what whole number and kinds of prefabricated model track sections of respectively straight and curved shapes will fit evenly together end to end in a circuitous closed system of model trackage, which comprises the steps of, placing in successively related positions against a markable surface a fixed assemblage of straight and curved traceable line elements of definite lengths whose ends are discernibly marked, which line elements are proportioned on a uniform reduced scale to the center line lengths of existing straight and curved prefabricated track sections, tracing enough of said line elements on said surface sequentially in selective order to draw a diagram comprising a series of straight and curved line components differing in order and arrangement from said fixed assemblage of line elements from which they are traced, and steering said series in a direction to loop into an endless closed circuit of said components wherefore to ascertain without computation what whole number and kinds of said track sections will assemble evenly together without shortage or left overs into a closed course of toy track.

2. A pike planner for charting endless closed courses of prefabricated sectional tcy track by synthesizing in selective end to end arrangement straight and curved line elements uniformly proportioned to the standardized lengths of prefabricated straight and curved sections of track, embodying a template bounded by a continuous peripheral edge, two stretches of said edge being straight and parallel, a third stretch of said edge being straight and perpendicular to one of said parallel stretches at a mutual meeting point, and a fourth stretch of said edge describing an arc of 180 degrees extent of constant circular curvature struck from said meeting point, to which are the other of said parallel stretches is tangent and to which arc said perpendicular stretch is normal, demarkations spaced apart along each of said stretches delimiting sub divisions of said stretches uniformly proportioned to standard lengths of prefabricated straight and curved sections of toy track and adapted to be traced individually and connectedly in selective sequence thereby to draw end to end arrangements of chosen straight and curved line elements synthesized to form a closed circuit of said line elements free from overlapping and free from gaps therebetween.

3. A pike planner as defined in claim 2, in which the said continuous edge of the said template carries one of the said demarkations at the exact junction of one of the said curved stretches of template edge with one of the said straight stretches of template edge.

4. A pike planner as defined in claim 2, in which the said template contains a tapering aperture delineated by straight and curved extents of template edge bordering said aperture, and demarkations spaced apart along said aperture bordering edge delimiting subdivisions thereof bearing the same proportion to the said standard lengths of prefabricated track sections as is borne by the said subdivision of the said stretches of peripheral edge of said template.

5. A pike planner as defined in claim 4, in which one of the said template edges bordering the said aperture is exclusively straight throughout and the opposite template edge bordering said aperture is tangent to said straight aperture bordering edge at each of opposite ends of the aperture and describes two ogee curves between said opposite ends.

6. A pike planner as defined in claim 5, in which the said template contains an additional aperture of constant narrow Width bordered on opposite sides by straight edges of said template extending parallel with the said straight edge that borders the said tapering aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 866,152 Merritt Sept. 17, 1907 1,745,188 Pipirs Jan. 28, 1930 2,028,401 Lore Jan. 21, 1936 2,196,257 Dubilier Apr. 9, 1940 2,458,072 Hall Jan. 4, 1949 2,578,483 Murray Dec. 11, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Rapi Design Catalogue #50, received, May 29, 1951. (Copy in Division 66.)

Miniature Electric Railway Construction, published by The Carlisle and Finch Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1906. (Copy in Division 34.) 

